CORAL SPRINGS Vacationing Panthers coach Kevin Dineen was surprised when a young Panthers fan down in Key West asked if he was happy that Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin wouldn’t be in the lineup for Wednesday’s first-place showdown while serving the last game of his three-game suspension.

“It’s kind of neat to hear kids are up on that,’’ Dineen said after Monday afternoon’s first post All-Star break practice. “You could say there’s no difference, but let’s not kid ourselves. You’re talking about a world-class player and one you really respect. It’s no different when you play Tampa Bay [without Steven Stamkos], someone with really special skills.

“Our preparation is always thorough in evaluating their last game where he didn’t play and they ended up getting the two points. They’ll be ready for it. So will we. We know what’s on the line.

“You don’t have to put the standings on the board.’’

Dineen was referring to Washington’s 5-3 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins without Ovechkin before the break. The Panthers, who are tied with Washington atop the Southeast Division with 55 points apiece (but are in second because of a tiebreaker), have split the two meetings this season but face each other three times from Feb. 1-17.

Ovechkin, who was suspended for, “launching’’ himself into Pittsburgh’s Zbynek Michalek, wasn’t penalized on the play. Ovechkin, who had to forfeit $154,677 of his annual $9,538,462 salary, was so upset by the suspension that he bypassed the All-Star game and spent his break on South Beach.

Panthers goaltender Scott Clemmensen, who started the last two games before the break – beating Winnipeg in a 4-3 shootout but losing in a 3-2 shootout to the Flyers – won’t miss the burly Russian’s blazing wrist shot that has accounted for most of his 321 goals in just 6 1/2 seasons.

“This is the biggest game of the season, obviously for us, it’s essentially a four-point game,’’ said Clemmensen, who spent most of his time off with his family at DisneyWorld. “Everytime I play against him he gives me a bruise on my collarbone. He’s dented the cage in my mask more than once and one time his shot went off my cage, bounced off the ice and went into the net.

“The toughest part is he doesn’t look at the net and try to pick out corners. He just throws it hard and fast in the vicinity so if he doesn’t know where he’s shooting, how are we supposed to?

“Miss him? Absolutely not.’’

Ovechkin, who averaged 54 goals in his first five seasons, had just 32 last year and 20 in his first 47 games this season. However, he’s heating up lately, with eight goals and 12 points in his last 12 games.

“Everybody knows how good a player he is on the ice, but his passion for the game is very deep,’’ said Panthers forward Matt Bradley, who played with Ovechkin for the past six seasons. “He cares as much when his teammates score as when he does.

“Anytime one of the best players in the world isn’t playing against you is always a good thing.’’

Health updates

Panthers leading scorer Kris Versteeg, who was excited about attending the Chile Cookoff Country Western concert in Davie last Sunday, was given the day off to shake his flu-like symptoms.

All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell was given a travel day off to get home from the weekend festivities in Ottawa where he notched a whopping plus-7 ice rating in his team’s 12-9 victory.

“I think he had a bonus for plus-8,’’ kidded Dineen about the lack of defense in All-Star games. “So he’s going to come back a little disappointed.’’ …

Forward Jack Skille, who returned after a month-long absence to play two games before sitting out the last game before the break, skipped practice in a continued effort to strengthen his shoulder for the playoff push. …

Forward Marco Sturm, who has been out since Dec. 21 with a concussion, is expected to return this week. …

The Panthers recalled defenseman Tyson Strachan from San Antonio to fill in for injured defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, who is recuperating from knee surgery.

HARVEY FIALKOV, a tennis-playing sportswriter who grew up in Long Island following the dynastic Islanders, is the new Panthers beat writer for the Sun Sentinel and looking forward to writing about the best professional sports team in Broward County.